Suns Burn the Lakers

Unable to slow down the scorching Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Lakers fell, 118-103 at the US Airways Center. Amare Stoudemire (26 points, 6 rebounds) and Steve Nash (16 points, 13 assists) led a balanced Phoenix attack handing the Lakers their second loss in three games. Kobe Bryant (34 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists) got very little help from any of his teammates as the Lakers suffered through easily their worst defensive performance of the season. Pau Gasol (13 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) and Andrew Bynum (14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocked shots) could not take advantage of their size as in the previous two meetings with the Suns. This time, the Suns bench thoroughly outplayed their Lakers counterparts, outscoring them, 52-31. Much of the Lakers bench scoring came in garbage time after the game was already out-of-reach.

Channing Frye (14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists) drew the Lakers bigs away from the basket while Nash expertly found open teammates for uncontested looks. Phoenix converted 12-33 three pointers for 36.4% with Jared Dudley (19 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) the primary target, connecting on 3-4 from behind the arc. Goran Dragic (14 points, 2 assists) and Leandro Barbosa (11 points) also torched the Lakers from the perimeter as the Suns swung the ball fluidly around the horn. Lamar Odom (9 points, 13 rebounds) and Shannon Brown (11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal) were the only other noteworthy scorers for the Lakers who fell to 25-6 on the season.

The Suns led after each quarter, never allowing the Lakers enough breathing room to get back into the game. The first half was closely played as Phoenix clung to a 25-23 lead after one. The Suns quickly extended their lead to double digits in the second period as a frustrated Phil Jackson pleaded with his players to play some defense. The porous Lakers defense provided Stoudemire with plenty of operating room, where he easily took Bynum and Gasol off the dribble. Only Kobe was able to momentarily stem the onslaught as he scored from all angles against Jason Richardson and Grant Hill. But it was too much Nash and company as Phoenix amassed 25 assists to the Lakers 13 dimes.

Typically, the Lakers lay low and score at will against the offensive-minded Suns, but they were unable to generate any stops to give them a chance. Instead, they chose to duke it out in a shooting contest which the Suns easily won. The Lakers were unable to stop the penetration dish of the Suns guards, allowing them either uncontested lay-ups or wide open shots from the perimeter. And with Ron Artest missing his second game due to a concussion, the Lakers sorely lacked his physical presence in the paint. The Suns waltzed from baseline to baseline, baiting the Lakers into gambling on defense. And while the Lakers obliged, role players such as Robin Lopez (8 points, 5 rebounds) and Dragic flourished.

The Lakers return home for a contest against the Golden State Warriors tomorrow night in the second game of a back-to-back. Fortunately, Artest is expected back and hopefully, the Lakers defense will reappear as well.